Merial launches new Heartgard dosing app for iPhone

Merial has launched a new application for Apple's iPhone that is designed to assist pet owners in managing dosing schedules for the canine heartworm treatment Heartgard.

The free app allows users to input how many doses of the drug they have purchased and receive reminders of when they should be administered, as well as allowing owners to store vital medical information about their dogs.

It is designed to help improve compliance with dosing regimes for the therapy, which is administered every 30 days and helps to prevent cases of the fatal mosquito-borne illness.

Michael Murray, technical marketing director for pet parasiticides at Merial, said the new iPhone application is the first of its kind and will help to deliver "consistent year-round prevention".

He added: "The risk of heartworm infection is widespread and heartworm disease is potentially deadly yet easily preventable."

Earlier this month, Merial announced that it is collaborating with GenVec to develop innovative new vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease.